The black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) is a dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae.

[3] It is found throughout European continent including the Mediterranean islands but is absent in the north of Britain and the northern half of Fennoscandia.

To the east, the range extends over central Asia to Kashmir, Mongolia to the northern parts of China and Arunachal Pradesh in India.

It is present in Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (Corsica, and mainland), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey (Turkey-in-Europe), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and in part of United Kingdom.

[4] This species has expanded its range, assisted by the creation of gravel pits which give it the extensive open unvegetated areas it prefers.

This dragonfly is found at any open water with bare patches along the shore where the patrolling males frequently rest in the sun.

It favors lakes, slow rivers, ponds and sometimes marshy area, without dense riparian vegetation.

With age, adult males develop extensive blue pruinescence on their abdomen, offset by yellow lateral patches.

The females and immature males are a deep yellow color, with wavy black lines dorsally on their abdomen.

Males and females have the costal vein (the leading edge of the wing) yellow or black.

[6] The species is similar to its much more localized congener the Orthetrum albistylum, but readily identifiable in the field.

♂: Adult males have a bluish or blue-gray patina on the body, gradually darkening with age.

♀: Adult females have a yellow-brownish abdomen with a lattice pattern (wide longitudinal dark brown stripes and bright crescent-shaped spots) and transparent wings.

[8] The male abdomen is without auricles on segment 2; with a single inferior anal appendage.

Larvae prefer bottom areas rich in vegetation and decaying plant material.